New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-10
JEFF DAVIS POSING AS A MARTYR
THE GOVERNMENT CHARGED WITH con-
SPIkACY.



WHEN AT EMPrs WERE MADE ON HIS LIFE.
BALTIMORE. July 9The Horning Herald OF this city
will publish tomorrow q sixcoumn Contribution,
giving an account vi recent interviews with Jefferson
Davis. In these interviews Mr.. Davis among other
things charges that tho ederi Government conspirea
during the war W have him assaSsmated On TINS
subject Mr.. Davis says:
While the Confederate Government was at Mont
somey, Ala In 1ool, received an anony nous ieeter
ION rnaueIpDia, tle Substance "a Sn.oa Was .nat
aespeIauo LOm tie penientiIfy upon the coma uoh
tnal wouju 10 10 montgomery anu assasshs.e mo-
with tho pIUmiscof reward o. %lOO,OUO II he sue
zee, sedl release the man stated that no
eoui Lot probably succeed a.une and gave tns maine
Oh another c0LyIct character ike AIS own wltA
whose be felt sure OF success, aud that Tho
convict was released " ACCOM- any the iIst
ABOUT ume when ht o. was received was
gong from my o1ice 10 my r1shaehce opsetVeu d
Dan squaung down by the nhcn wal ~n, a,,. a.
the yard rested. Walking rapidly, had gone few
steps bcore the position Oh thls man SO lmpressoa
Walking back toward the corner OF fence behind
which he was crouchng, 1 saw him looking over the
wall all toward the gate through which was expected
to enter reached the corner he jumped up and
stood where shg there %as an alloy followed him
rapidly but when had reached the alley he had
Sent the anonymous letter to william b. Rced,
OF Philadelphia, asking him to make such inquiry as
would verify dsprove It's allegations. If he ever
replied / do not know. as cOmmunica were closed
eoon after that While In Richmond 1t was my habit
10 ride out often in the afternoon " visit tho defensive
works We WEI constructing around the capital. On
one OCCASION accom- aned by my aide, Colonel william
preston Johnston, L had nden across ellis Creek
lust behind me and In front OF Colonel Johnston. We
70 70 rapidly around unoccupol house from which
it was thought the shot must have been fred No
was visible After r Wsnf to the Sy sa
Marshal who sent out some skilled than We
had been to make further search In the house They
aoor so that they could removed, AMI underneath
III at found man with rife who gave lame account
of himself As hiding there to avoid CONSUMPTION The
next NJ morning was Informed that the man, with
liberal retainer In gold. had employed lawyer to sue
out writ Of habeas corpus. Aware though the cir
cnmstantiai evidence might produce moral convic-
ton. that he would probably be dlscharged IN com
General Lee at Petersburg with an explanatory note
and the hope that no would be put In the ront ine
to stop a bail intended for better man on another
ocrasion returning from afternoon ride with my
aide, Colonel Joseph Il. Davis Just as we entered
the suburbs Of Richmond a shot fired from behind
a high garden wall at close range but without erect
There wore many reasons before the Dahlgren RAID
for believing that efforts inconsistent with the rules OF
war as practiced by civilized nations were to be made
TO the assassination, especially OF inc tTesi
dent and to acquire information by spies resident
and ranstory and that large rewards wero offered for
such services. including arson and murder. On ono
occasion, when I known 10 be travelling on
railroad TO the army. Information was brought by
lady who had overheard the conversation In q barn
the information was verified by detachment sent,
who found the obstructions and some United stairs
soldiers secrrtcd in barn near the place where the
train expected 70 be wrecked
Mr. Davis gives his motives and political status
In 1861 and claims that he never was dsunionist,
the Northern Senators rejected at that time
every proposition that promised paclhcadion. He
refers to x. r. Buffers voting for him fifty seven
times at Charleston, C., In 1860 as candidate OF
the Democratic party for President to prevent dis
union and declare. that he dh not desire to be Prcs
dent OF the Confcderacy but took prompt, and as he
thought adequate means to prevent H." After his
election and Inauguration AT Montgomery, all his
efforts were directed toward securing for the scccd
ing siatos n peaceful separation, though he never
thought Of going back into the Union TO escape
last resort To the arbitrament OF arms.
declares that Mcclellan and Meade were the two
hret Id and
permitted carry ont his campaign against Rich
inond, he had planned II. and had received tho
hearty support OF thu Federal War Department, II
would have resulted dlsastr0usly TO the Confederaies
Speaking Of Stoncwall" Jackson, he said that had
he not fallen at Charlottesville the Federal army
OF the Potomac would have disappeared into history
under circums ances far different from those which
marked ifs dissolution two years later
Mr.. Davis says he has wish TO enter public life,
but Is deeply soctous for the welfare and prosperity
Of the whole country. aiDl says the only disturbing
element TO be dlscsrned the efforts of the
extremists of the North to keep alive for political
purposes the animOstes and hatreds Of the past
lie thai he thinks the time has come when rcar
should he substituted for passion and when men
who fought In support OF their honest convictions
able and willing do Justice to each other.